- A
The EBS volume has a DeleteOnTermination attribute set to false.
Why wrong: If the volume is not a root device, DeleteOnTermination on the instance's BlockDeviceMapping controls deletion; but the DeletionPolicy on the volume resource is separate. However, the most likely reason is that DeletionPolicy only applies to stack deletion.
- B
The DeletionPolicy attribute only takes effect when the CloudFormation stack is deleted, not when an individual resource is terminated.
DeletionPolicy applies to stack deletion, not resource termination.
- C
The EBS volume is the root device of the EC2 instance.
Why wrong: Root device behavior depends on the AMI; typically, root EBS volumes are deleted by default, but the question states the volume is attached, not necessarily root.
- D
The EC2 instance was terminated manually, not through a stack update.
Why wrong: Termination method does not affect DeletionPolicy behavior.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the DeletionPolicy attribute only takes effect when the CloudFormation stack is deleted, not when an individual resource like an EC2 instance is terminated. This is because DeletionPolicy governs what happens to a resource during a stack deletion operation, not during lifecycle events of the resource itself. For the EBS volume to be automatically removed when the EC2 instance is terminated, you must set the DeleteOnTermination attribute to true within the EC2 instance’s BlockDeviceMapping property. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this is a classic trap: candidates confuse DeletionPolicy (stack-level) with DeleteOnTermination (instance-level). The exam tests your understanding that CloudFormation does not monitor or react to manual resource terminations—it only enforces policies during stack operations. A helpful memory tip: DeletionPolicy is for “stack teardown,” while DeleteOnTermination is for “instance shutdown.”
DVA-C02 Deployment Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is using AWS CloudFormation to deploy a stack that includes an Amazon EC2 instance with an attached Amazon EBS volume. The developer wants to ensure that the EBS volume is deleted when the EC2 instance is terminated. The developer has set the DeletionPolicy attribute on the EBS volume resource to Delete. However, after terminating the EC2 instance through the console, the EBS volume is still present. The stack still exists. What is the most likely reason the volume was not deleted?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The DeletionPolicy attribute only takes effect when the CloudFormation stack is deleted, not when an individual resource is terminated.
Option A is correct because DeletionPolicy only applies when the stack is deleted, not when an individual resource is terminated. Option B is wrong because the EC2 instance termination does not trigger stack update. Option C is wrong because the EBS volume is not a root device; root device is an instance store or EBS volume. Option D is wrong because the DeleteOnTermination attribute on the EC2 instance's BlockDeviceMapping controls whether the volume is deleted when the instance is terminated, not the DeletionPolicy on the volume resource.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The EBS volume has a DeleteOnTermination attribute set to false.
Why it's wrong here
If the volume is not a root device, DeleteOnTermination on the instance's BlockDeviceMapping controls deletion; but the DeletionPolicy on the volume resource is separate. However, the most likely reason is that DeletionPolicy only applies to stack deletion.
- ✓
The DeletionPolicy attribute only takes effect when the CloudFormation stack is deleted, not when an individual resource is terminated.
Why this is correct
DeletionPolicy applies to stack deletion, not resource termination.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
The EBS volume is the root device of the EC2 instance.
Why it's wrong here
Root device behavior depends on the AMI; typically, root EBS volumes are deleted by default, but the question states the volume is attached, not necessarily root.
- ✗
The EC2 instance was terminated manually, not through a stack update.
Why it's wrong here
Termination method does not affect DeletionPolicy behavior.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DVA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Deployment — This question tests Deployment — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The DeletionPolicy attribute only takes effect when the CloudFormation stack is deleted, not when an individual resource is terminated. — Option A is correct because DeletionPolicy only applies when the stack is deleted, not when an individual resource is terminated. Option B is wrong because the EC2 instance termination does not trigger stack update. Option C is wrong because the EBS volume is not a root device; root device is an instance store or EBS volume. Option D is wrong because the DeleteOnTermination attribute on the EC2 instance's BlockDeviceMapping controls whether the volume is deleted when the instance is terminated, not the DeletionPolicy on the volume resource.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DVA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DVA-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DVA-C02 exam.
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